Three things to watch in Wednesday's game.

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Nojel Eastern of Purdue tries to work the baseline against Indiana State during an exhibition game Saturday, October 28, 2017, at Mackey Arena. All net proceeds from the exhibition benefit the Greater Houston Community Foundation and UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to support Puerto Rico. Purdue defeated Indiana State 94-72.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)Buy Photo

This is Purdue's final open exhibition. Its closed scrimmage against West Virginia in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday is not open to the public or media.

Three things to watch Wednesday:

• The Fighting Saints are coached by former Purdue player Carson Cunningham. He played point guard for the Boilermakers' Elite Eight team in 2000.

Last March he and Carroll were leaving Kansas City just as the Boilermakers arrived for their NCAA Tournament Midwest Region games. The Fighting Saints advanced to the NAIA National Tournament there for the second straight season.

Carroll opens this season ranked No. 12 nationally. With eight players averaging between nine and 19 points, the Fighting Saints are scoring 105.7 points per night through three games.

Led by Ryan Imhoff (19.0 points, 4.0 assists), Carroll shares the ball well and is shooting 43.2 percent from 3-point range against other small-college competition.

• Dakota Mathias said Purdue watched some film of Indiana State's closed scrimmage against Illinois. However, there wasn't much of a scouting report to follow. That resulted in more teachable moments for seniors such as him and the younger Boilermakers who were adapting to a new opponent on the fly.

That role is an important one early this season for Mathias, P.J. Thompson, Vincent Edwards and Isaac Haas.

"It's a new look for us — they haven't probably seen that before," Mathias said. "P.J. , Vince, Isaac and I, we've been here four years. We've seen a lot of it. We know what's coming.

"It's just helping them be in the right position and not get burnt on it next time."

Mathias pulled aside the newcomers on a couple of occasions during Saturday's exhibition. Purdue coach Matt Painter believes such mentoring to be crucial this season.

"If you keep things to yourself, your experience doesn't matter," Painter said. "You have to share. You have to be able to talk about it but you also have to be able to do it in a constructive manner and helping guys.

"The one thing that's really important for our guys is to try to be proactive. Don't just be talking to talk. Be proactive about what's coming up, what to look for. If this happens, tell them what to do. If this doesn't happen, tell them what to do."

• Painter admitted he didn't substitute as he would have in a normal game late in the first half against Indiana State. (In particular, Dakota Mathias and Vincent Edwards will rarely come off the floor.)

Nojel Eastern and Ryan Cline will perhaps be the biggest beneficiaries of extended minutes during the preseason. Cline collected six points, four rebounds and three assists with no turnovers and has made more defensive improvements since last season.